DNII Act of 2026

This legislation, known as the "Do Not Interfere in our Intelligence Act of 2026" or the "DNII Act of 2026," aims to establish a clear and specific succession plan for the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) position. It explicitly overrides the general provisions of the **Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998** and other laws to ensure continuity in leadership. The bill mandates that the **Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence**, if appointed by the President with Senate confirmation, shall act as DNI during any absence, disability, or vacancy in the DNI position. This ensures that a Senate-confirmed official is always in charge of the nation's intelligence apparatus during such critical periods. Should both the DNI and the Senate-confirmed Principal Deputy DNI positions be vacant, the President is directed to appoint an acting DNI from other **Senate-confirmed officials within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence**. If all Senate-confirmed positions within the ODNI are vacant, the President must then select an acting DNI from **Senate-confirmed officials within any element of the intelligence community**. Only if no individual meets these specific criteria can the President resort to the general provisions of the **Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998** to temporarily fill the DNI role. This structured approach prioritizes Senate-confirmed leadership for the DNI position under all vacancy scenarios.